6 women to be honored at luncheon, fundraiser at Villa Bianca in Seymour

Contributed photo

SEYMOUR - The Valley Women's Health Initiative Thursday will honor women from Derby, Oxford, Stratford, and Milford at the 19th Annual Women Making a Difference in the Valley Tribute Luncheon and Breast Cancer Fundraiser.
The luncheon will be held from noon-2 p.m. at the Inn at Villa Bianca, 312 Roosevelt Drive.

The tribute recognizes outstanding women who have made positive contributions to the community and have demonstrated significant achievement in their fields of endeavor, both professional and volunteer.

This year’s honorees are Barbara Casagrande and Elizabeth Johnson, both of Oxford, Dr. Joyce Chung and Maggie Sessa, both of Derby, Kathy Radin of Stratford, and Elizabeth “Liz” Kennard of Milford. 
Jocelyn Maminta, Good Morning Connecticut at Nine co-anchor and Emmy Award-nominated Medical Reporter for News 8, will host the event.

Valley Breast Health Care Fund
Proceeds from the event benefit the Valley Breast Health Care Fund. 
Established in 2001, this fund is an effort to ensure that no person, regardless of age or socio-economic condition, is denied screening mammograms or diagnostic testing for breast cancer.

To purchase tickets or to make a donation, call 203-734-6945, nvbv1952gmail.com or send to N. Valentine, 18 Farrell Drive, Ansonia, 06401.    
The Women’s Health Initiative, Co-Chaired by Kate Cosgrove of Oxford and Dr. Stephanie Wain of Griffin Hospital, is comprised of members of the community working toward a common goal of addressing and improving women’s breast health issues.  
Committee members include Darlene Breving, Oxford; Cary Carpino, Derby; Dolores Chew, Beacon Falls; Christine Cooper, Seymour; Dorothy Gandy, Naugatuck; Antonietta Hallet, Southbury; Elizabeth Johnson, Oxford; Peggy Marlowe, Hamden; Lori Murphy, Derby; Monica Oris, Derby; Shayne Seccombe, Derby; Patricia Tarasovic, Oxford, Nancy Valentine, Ansonia.   Committee membership is open to all interested persons.

About The Valley Women’s Health Initiative
The Valley Women's Health Initiative is a coalition of health agencies, community leaders, and volunteers from the Valley community working toward the common goal of addressing and improving women's health issues including breast cancer awareness and heart disease.
To join or for more information, visit griffinhealth.org/VWHI.


This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Recuperation journey: Derby Green


Took this photo of the beautiful Immanuel St. James Episcopal Church on the Derby Green on Sept. 30, 2013. It came up today in my Facebook memories. 

Make wreaths, learn about squirrels, more at Ansonia Nature Center



ANSONIA - The Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center, 10 Deerfield Road, will offer a variety of fun and educational activities in October.

BITTERSWEET WREATHS – Oct. 5, 2 p.m.
Bring your own clippers and gardening gloves for this workshop led by Ranger Dawn.
When you collect these beautiful orange-berried vines, you’re actually helping the park by removing this invasive plant species. FEE: $6. Please call to register.

NATURE AS MENTOR – Oct. 13, 2 p.m.
Join Marlow Shami, a nature-based teacher, artist, healer, and writer, who will conduct the Nature As Mentor program for adults. Learn the magnificent language of nature in this powerful workshop. Discover your unique niche as part of our planet’s restoration plan. 
The wisdom of elder/earth-based cultures, as well as recent empirical research in the fields of eco-psychology and environmental psychology, mindfulness-based stress reduction, meditation, and energy medicine, provide the foundation of this 90-minute program. Attendees acquire simple tools to access the guidance they seek and restoration needed for negotiating the challenges of daily life. Discover how to actively engage in caring for our shared home. Adults only. Please call to register. FEE: $20 per person.

AUTUMN FESTIVAL – Oct. 19, 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
Celebrate this wonderful season with the staff and the Friends of the Ansonia Nature Center (FANCI)!
Take a ride through our community gardens and fields in our horse-drawn story wagon, where you’ll hear some spooky Halloween tales! Learn about bats, spiders, and owls! Have some fresh apple cider and baked goods. Visit the Nature Shop to buy some creepy and crawly nature-related items. Enjoy nature-related exhibitors and vendors. You can try your hand at pumpkin painting, get your face painted, and make some original crafts. All proceeds will benefit the Nature Center’s exhibits.
RAIN or SHINE. No park admission fee. Call us for more information: 203-736-1053.

SELF DEFENSE WORKSHOP FOR WOMEN – Oct. 23, 6:30–7:30 p.m.
Learn life-saving techniques and how to take control of a potentially dangerous situation using practical, effective tactics. Today, self-defense is more important than ever. Refuse to be a victim!
This workshop at the Nature Center is a must for women of all ages, so sign up today! Presented by the Assembly of the Martial Arts Academy. FEE: $20 (cash or check payable to AMAA, due by Oct. 21).
For more information call Theresa, 203-506-3816 or the Nature Center, 203-736-1053.

NATURE EXPLORERS – Wednesdays, Oct. 23, 30, Nov. 6, 13, 10–11:30 a.m.
Join us for this 4 week pre-school/toddler program for children ages 2-5 with their adult explorer. Participants will have fun exploring nature every week in these outdoor classes, which are loosely structured, influenced by the seasons and the interests of the children. We will go outside to explore nature every class so please dress for the weather. Classes will end with a light snack and conversation. TUITION: $40 for all 4 weeks, Class is limited to 10 children. Please call to register: 203-736-1053.

NUTS AND NESTS – Oct. 26, 2 p.m.

Nuts to you! Gone to seed, everything is squirrel feed! Explore the Nature Center’s Woodland Trail with Ranger Amie to observe our local squirrels building nests and hoarding nuts and seeds for the winter. Collect wild food for them and make a squirrel feeder to take home. For ages 6 and up. FREE. Please call to register.
NOVEMBER

A PASSION FOR BIRDS WITH HENRY LAPPEN – Nov. 2, 2 p.m.
This unique interpretive program for families helps people understand and connect with birds and other wildlife. Using masks, comedy, and loads of audience participation, artist Henry Lappen explores how and why birds have adapted to their environment. He explains the science while demonstrating how the birds move and act. Participants get to try on the masks and soar as eagles, stalk as herons, and swim as puffins. FEE: $6 per person; please call to register. For all ages.

FALL FOLIAGE HIKE – Nov. 3, 1 p.m.
Join the Nature Center naturalist for a stroll through our woodlands, old fields, and wetlands. 
Enjoy the beauty and the crisp fall air while learning about New England’s flora and fauna. Wear appropriate shoes for this moderate hike. FREE. Please pre-register.

* * * ONGOING PROGRAMS * * *
Creature Feature – Saturdays, noon
Come to meet our furry, scaly, and feathery animal ambassadors. You’ll have the chance to touch and hold them in this FREE family program for all ages.

Sunday Guided Hikes – Sundays, 1 p.m.
Join a Nature Center guide for fun, exercise, and learning about our trails! See the above listings for hikes with a specific theme.

Fiber Arts Group – Tuesdays, 6 p.m.
Get together with others to work on your fiber arts projects! Bring any kind of fiber work - knitting, felting, crocheting, etc. A great way to dedicate time to your handiwork and socialize too. FREE.



This is a press release from the Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center.

Recuperation journey: Looking at the sky

It looked interesting this morning for a short while!

BHcare to hold 20th annual Sound of Hope event in New Haven


Sheree Baldwin-Muhammad

NEW HAVEN - To raise awareness about domestic violence, BHcare’s The Umbrella Center for Domestic Violence Services will hold an event to honor survivors and remember the victims of domestic violence. 
The 20th annual Sound of Hope will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday (Oct. 2) at Long Wharf Pier. 

The event will include the reading of names of those who have died as a result of domestic violence. 
A poem written by survivors will also be recited. Each person in attendance will receive a flower to toss into the harbor. 
The flowers represent the hopes and struggles of the survivors as they strive to become free from violence. The flower also gently reminds us of the lives that have been taken from us due to domestic violence.

In October the nation observes Domestic Violence Awareness Month to bring to light an issue that effects all of our communities. 
Every nine seconds, a woman is battered in the U.S. One in four women and one in seven men in the U.S. are victims of domestic violence at some point in their lives.

Sheree Baldwin-Muhammad will be guest speaker. She is an educator, author, poet, and survivor of domestic violence. 
The event will also recognize our local police departments for their role in the fight against domestic violence. 
For more information about this event, or about domestic violence services call 203-736-2601, x1381, or visit www.bhcare.org.  
If you need immediate assistance, please call our 24-hour domestic violence hotline, 1-888-774-2900.

UCDVS is a program of BHcare that provides services for victims and children of domestic violence free of charge. 
Each year, over 7,500 abused women and their children walk through the door of UCDVS looking for shelter, help, and hope. 
Learn more at bhcare.org.

This is a press release from BHcare.